Edward, John and Timothy Dillane
Athea, West Limerick, Ireland (c.1814-1849)
Three Dillane convict brothers came from the townland or Catholic parish of Athea in the civil parish of Rathronan, West Limerick, Ireland.
Rathronan included the following townlands: Athea Lower, Athea town, Athea Upper, Ballyegny, Ballykealy, Ballylin, Ballymakeery, Ballyvoghan, Cahermoyle, Clash North, Clash South, Cool East, Cool West, Crataloe East, Crataloe West, Dromada, Glenagower, Glendiheen, Glensharrold, Glenville, Gortnagross, Keale, Kerrikyle, Knockaunnagun, Lisgordan, Templeathea East, Templeathea West and Tooradoo. The Catholic Church in Athea, St. Bartholomew's, was built in 1832.
Athea, Co. Limerick
Edward Dillane, the eldest, was born around 1814, John about 1817 and Timothy about 1822. Records of baptisms for the parish of Athea begin in 1830 which makes it impossible to find the dates of birth or baptisms of the Dillane brothers.
The Tithe Applotment Book for 1833 lists a John Dillon in Athea Lower who held 43 and a quarter acres. He may be the father of Edward, John, Timothy and William.
Athea, Co. Limerick
All three brothers were married at the time of transportation. Edward, aged 20, married Mary Woulfe in Athea, 9 February 1834. The witnesses were Maurice and Honora Woulfe. The baptisms of three children are listed in the registers, but a total of five children is given in Edward's convict record:
Children of Edward and Mary Dillane Name Sponsor(s)
Edward’s brother, John, married Johanna Moore in Athea, 17 February 1841. The baptisms of three children are listed in Athea, but a total of four is given in John's convict record:
Children of John and Johanna Dillane Name Date of Baptism Sponsor(s)
The remaining brother, Timothy Dillane, had a wife, Margaret. There were no children which suggests that he was married not long before 1849.
It would seem that Edward, John and Timothy had a brother, William Dillane, who remained in Ireland. He married Margaret Murphy, 12 February 1839 in the parish of Monagea, West Limerick. There were eight children: Mary, Brigid, James (1843), William (1845), Michael (1850), Denis (1853), Patrick (1856) and Ellen (1859). The descendants of William kept the spelling Dillane.
Griffith’s Valuation for 1852, taken three years after the trial and imprisonment of the Dillane brothers, lists 76 Dillanes renting houses and/or land in Co. Limerick. The following list gives the parishes and number of Dillanes as occupiers of leased land in each parish. In the early 1850s, most Dillanes in Co. Limerick lived in the western part of the county, in the civil parishes of Kilfergus, Monagay and Fedamore.
Dillane Occupiers of Land in Co. Limerick (1852)
Four Dillanes are listed in the parish of Rathronan where the three convict brothers lived. Timothy Dillane leased a house and garden in Athea Lower from Daniel Sullivan. The property covered 24 perches. The annual value of the land was 2/- and the house 7/-.
John Dillane leased a house in Crataloe West from Wyndham Goold with an annual value of 9/-.
Johanna Dillane (most likely the wife of the convict John Dillane) leased a house from John Mahony at Keale with an annual value of 7/-.
Catherine Dillane leased a house from Daniel Donovan at Ballyvoghan with an annual value of 6/-.
In the adjoining parish of Monagay, there are eleven Dillane entries:
Griffith's Valuation for the civil parish of Monagay Name Lessor Townland Area Margaret Dillane Thomas Leane Knockane (Newcastle) Mary Dillane Earl of Devon Knockane (Newcastle) James Dillane Timothy Dunford North Meenyline John Dillane John Hallihan South Meenyline Matthew Dillane Pierce Mahony Sugarhill (land) 59 2 26 £1 10/- Edmond Dillane Pierce Mahony Sugarhill (land) 59 2 26 £1 10/- Mathew Dillane Pierce Mahony Sugarhill (house & land) 90 0 22 £5 10/- Edmond Dillane Pierce Mahony Sugarhill (house & land) 90 0 22 £5 5/- John Dillane John Hallinan West Templeglentan (house, offices, forge, land) £1 15/- Michael Dillane Earl of Devon North Tulligoline Michael Dillane Earl of Devon North Tulligoline
Limerick,
1849-1852
Edward, John and Timothy Dillane were all tried at Limerick, 12 March 1849 and charged with arson. They were accused with burning a stack of hay belonging to Edward’s father-in-law and sentenced to seven years’ transportation. None had a previous conviction. There is an account of the trial in the Limerick Chronicle, 14 March 1849: ‘Judge Ball took his seat on the bench shortly after ten o’clock, and the following jury was sworn [...] John, Timothy, and Edmond Delane, Patrick Stack and Patrick Sullivan, were indicted for setting fire to four stacks of hay at Drumadda on the 3d October last, the property of Maurice Wolfe. Patrick Wolfe examined by Hon. Mr. Plunkett Lives at Drummada; recollects the 3d of October last; my four brothers and father lived with me; my father has a farm; there was hay on the meadow made up in small stacks; watched it the night it was burned; my brother Thomas was with me; five men came with sods of turf lit in their hands, and they burned four stacks of it; Pat Sullivan had no fire when the hay was burned; knew the whole of the party (identifies them); knew them a long time; it was a dark night; was within a few perches of them when the hay got blazed; we saw them quite plain; they could not see us, for we hid behind a ditch, for we were afraid they would murder us; they remained till the hay was blazed; it was about ten o’clock at night; Drumadda is in the western part of Co. Limerick; it is the property of Mr Goold; went next day to the magistrate, and made informations; there was about 5 cwt in each stack. Cross-examined by Mr. Mullins - My brother and a labouring boy was with me; did not stop them from setting fire to the hay; there was a house within a quarter of a mile from us, I remained in the ditch; my brother went as evidence against John Delane and Patrick Stack that day to Abbeyfeale Petty Sessions. After some unimportant testimony, Mr. Mullins rose to address the jury found a verdict of guilty, when John, Timothy and Edmond Dillane, and Patrick Stack, were sentenced to be transported for seven years, and Patrick Sullivan to eighteen months’ imprisonment.’
Convict labour in
Tasmania, 1852-1857
The three brothers were transported on board the Lord Dalhousie which left Cork 30 April 1852 and arrived in Hobart Town, 14 August 1852. There were 294 males on board. Edward was aged 38, John aged 35 and Timothy aged 30. All three were Roman Catholic, labourers and illiterate. Edward Dillane’s description was as follows: height 5’3”, a fresh complexion, a medium head, forehead, nose and chin, dark brown hair and whiskers, an oval visage, black eyebrows, blue eyes and a large mouth, married with five children. John Dillane: height 5’5 and a half inches, a sallow complexion, a medium head, forehead, mouth and chin, black hair and eyebrows with no whiskers, blue eyes, an oval visage and a large nose. He had a blue mark on his forehead and was married with four children. Timothy Dillane: 5’4 and a half inches, a sallow complexion, an oval visage and head, black hair and eyebrows, reddish whiskers, a low forehead, blue eyes, a large nose and a medium mouth and chin. He was married with no children.
From 1852-1857, the Dillane brothers worked as hired help for free-settlers. Timothy underwent ten days solitary confinement in March 1854 and six months hard labour in 1855 for misconduct in being out after hours and in the house of Mr Gascoyne for some unlawful purpose at midnight. All three received a Ticket of Leave in 1854, a Conditional Pardon in 1854-55 and freed in 1857. Three of Edward’s children were assisted in their passage to Australia in 1858.
Edward Dillane’s
Irish family emigrate to Tasmania, 1857, and Edward’s re-marriage
Two, if not three, of Edward Dillane’s children arrived in Hobart Town via the Persian, 5 December 1857, Edmund aged 20, John aged 15 and most probably Johanna as well. Edward sen. married Hannah Kavin, also called Hannah Day, 15 July 1858 at St Joseph’s, Hobart Town and settled in Glaziers Bay.
Five children were born:
Anne (born 28 April 1859; m. Michael Grace 30 Sept 1880; died 26 Jan 1900, aged 40)
Michael (b. 3 November 1860; unmarried; died 29 Jan 1931, Sydney, aged 70)
Mary (b. 9 May 1862; m. John Dawson; died 3 Mar 1928, Sydney, aged 65)
Ellen (b. 29 January 1864; unmarried; died 27 Sept 1941, Sydney, aged 77)
Hanorah (b. 9 December 1867)
Michael, Mary and Ellen all moved to NSW and died in Sydney.
John Dillane’s
re-marriage, 1856
John Dillane married Bridget Bain at St Mary’s Anglican Church, Franklin, 18 August 1856. They later re-married at St James’ Catholic Church, Cygnet, 13 Jan 1877. There were 12 children:
Edward, (b. 1 November 1857, drowned in a well aged nearly one, 15 September 1858.)
John Patrick (b. 1 Sept 1858; m. Eliza Elkins, 24 Nov 1890; died 22 Sept 1951, aged 93)
Mary Theresa (b. 15 April 1860; m. John Dillon 11 May 1877; died 7 Aug 1944, aged 84)
Margaret (b. 13 July 1862; m. John Ribbon 26 Jan 1880; remarried; died 18 Nov 1943)
Edmund Matthew ‘Sam’ (b. 3 October 1864; m. Bridget Welsh 2 Mar 1897; died 31 Aug 1946, aged 81)
Bridget (b. 28 August 1866 died of consumption aged nineteen, 1 February 1886)
Peter Joseph (12 October 1869; m. Emma Tame; remarried 7 Aug 1901; died 2 Feb 1946, aged 76)
Elizabeth Anne (b. 3 October 1872; m. Arthur Garth 30 Oct 1901; died 16 Jul 1949, aged 76)
Johanna (b. 21 August 1874; m. Frederick Smith, 25 Apr 1894; died 12 Dec 1955, aged 81)
Ellen (b. 3 March 1876 died of convulsions aged nine months, 4 January 1877)
Matthew Philip (b. 8 February 1878; m. Frances Harrison 14 Feb 1906; died 21 Aug 1962, aged 84)
Ellen (b. 26 October 1879; m. Edward Garth 25 Aug 1897; died 1 Jun 1965, aged 85)
Timothy Dillane’s
re-marriage, 1858
Timothy Dillane/Dillon married Catherine Joyce at St. David’s Cathedral in Hobart, 27 May 1858. Catherine arrived in Hobart Town, 14 October 1855 on board the Conway from Liverpool. She was aged 17, a housemaid from Co. Cork, born c.1837. There are 120 entries for the surname Joyce in Griffith's Valuation of Co. Cork. Like her husband, she was unable to write. They settled at Glaziers Bay and had ten children:
Edmund Jonas (b. 5 May 1859; m. Agnes Dunckle 27 Sept 1892; died 28 Sept 1931, 72)
Mary Teresa (b. 8 December 1860; m. William Andrews 23 July 1890; died 28 Sept 1894, aged 33)
John Joseph (b. 6 August 1862; m. Mary Burns 6 Apr 1893; died 12 Mar 1931, aged 68)
Catherine Agatha (b. 25 July 1864; a child from Joseph McKnight; m. Jack Livingston; died 6 March 1907 aged 42)
Johanna Geneva (b. 12 July 1867; m. Charles Markham 26 Apr 1887; died 30 Oct 1899, aged 32)
Ellen called 'Nell' (b. 14 July 1869, m. William Conley 29 Jun. 1892; died 11 June 1944)
Patrick Jerome 'Paddy' (b. 18 Aug. 1871 m. Agnes Stokes 1901; died 14 Jan. 1911 of T.B., aged 39)
Robert (b. 12 Sept. 1873; died 28 May 1899, aged 25)
Timothy (b. 17 November 1875; m. Edith Robertson; died 24 Aug 1942, aged 66)
Francis (10 January 1878; m. Amy Stokes 10 Feb 1904; died 31 Oct 1949, aged 70)
Marriages of the
children of Edward Dillane born in Ireland
Edward Dillane’s eldest son from his first marriage, Edmund jun., married Catherine Nix at Franklin, 7 January 1861. They had ten children. Catherine Dillon, née Nix died 10 June 1897, aged 55.
Ellen (b. 1 Sept.1861)
John (b. 8 Aug. 1862; died aged 3 months, 2 Nov 1862)
Edmund (b. 29 Sept. 1863; married Bridget Stack, 10 Mar 1882; died 13 March 1898 aged 34)
Mary Ann called ‘Margaret’ (b. 19 Sept.1865, m. Benjamin Loriman, 28 Apr. 1887)
John (b. 7 June 1867; married Ann Stanton; died 23 Aug 1937, aged 70)
Sarah (b. 20 May1869)
James (b. 2 Oct.1870; married Janie Halton?)
Timothy (b. 7 Oct.1872)
Maurice (b. 3 July 1874; married Myrtle Garth 24 Nov 1913; died 18 Nov 1924, aged 50)
Catherine (b. 15 May 1876)
The second son, John, born in Ireland, married his first cousin, Mary Teresa Dillon, the daughter of the convict, John Dillane, 11 May 1877 in Cygnet. They had eight children. John Dillon died 26 Oct 1891 aged 49. Mary Dillon later remarried Alfred 'Pretty Boy' Cowen, 10 June 1895. She died 7 Aug 1944, aged 84.
John (b. 15 May 1877; died 12 Sept 1878, aged 1 year, 4 months);
Edward (b. 18 Nov 1878; m. Patience Bone, 11 Sept 1904; died 12 Apr 1958, aged 79);
John Michael (b. 25 Nov 1880; married Mary E. McKeown, 25 Oct 1904);
Andrew (b. 20 Nov 1882; died in New Zealand?);
Christopher (b. 1 Dec 1883; married Mary Nichol, 17 Aug 1914; died 12 July 1963, aged 79);
Bridget Claribel (b. 28 March 1886; married Francis Polley, 3 June 1903);
Johanna Mary (b. 4 Apr 1888; m. Leslie Miller, 8 Aug 1904; died 23 Nov 1956, aged 68);
Mary Elizabeth Agnes (b. 12 June 1890; died 1902, aged 12)
The remaining Dillane from Ireland, Johanna, married John Thorp 14 Jan 1867 and had nine children. Johanna Thorp died 9 April 1903. John Thorp died 11 Aug 1897 aged 64. Their children:
Mary Elizabeth (b. 3 Sept 1867; m. Francis Alfred Lloyd, 26 Dec 1887);
John (b. 18 Jan 1870; died 15 Apr 1872, aged 2);
Johanna Christina (b. 18 Dec 1871; m. Thomas Dixon, 27 Aug 1894; died 1 Apr 1914, aged 42);
James (b. 16 Mar 1874; m. May Gallagher; died 11 July 1919, aged 45);
Sarah Ann (b. 16 Nov 1876; m. Arthur James Lloyd 1898);
Joseph Ambrose (b. 25 Oct 1878);
Selina (b. 9 Nov 1880; m. Sherrin);
Susan Rebecca (b. 11 Mar 1884; died 6 May 1885, aged 1);
Frank John (b. 12 Jan 1890; m. Mabel Flemming, 1 Dec 1921).
Land Valuation 1862
According to the 1862 Valuation Roll, Edmund Dillon owned and occupied a farm and house covering 12 acres at Glazier's Bay worth £10 a year. Timothy Dillon owned and occupied another house and farm at Glazier's Bay covering 12 acres worth £10 a year. Edmund and Timothy Dillon jointly owned a house and farm at Glazier's Bay covering 12 acres and occupied by Michael McNamara with an annual value of £10. Edward Dillon owned 52 acres of bushland at Agnes Rivulet worth £2 a year. John Dillon owned another 52 acres of bushland at Agnes Rivulet worth the same. A John Dillon occupied a hut and farm at Glazier's Bay covering 10 acres belonging to Thomas Inches with an annual value of £7 10/-. A John Dillon occupied a farm at Glazier's Bay covering 6 acres belonging to Mrs Gaylor with an annual value of £3. A John Dillon owed and occupied a hut and land at Woodstock covering 2 acres worth £2 a year. A John Dillon owed and occupied a farm at Woodstock covering 10 acres worth £7 10/- a year.
Deaths of the three convict brothers, 1880/1899/1890
The ex-convict, Edward Dillon died at Port Cygnet, 11 December 1899 aged about 75; his wife, Hannah Dillon, died 9 July 1909.
John Dillon died at Port Cygnet, 22 April 1890 aged about 73 and his wife, Bridget Dillon, 8 August 1903, aged about 64.
Timothy Dillon died at the General Hospital Hobart of necrosis femur, 8 March 1880 aged about 58; his wife, Catherine Dillon, died of pneumonia at the General Hospital Hobart, 2 August 1886 aged about 49. Their children were left without a parent at the following ages: Edmund (27), Mary (25), John (24), Catherine (22), Johanna (19), Helen (17), Patrick (15), Robert (13), Timothy (11) and Francis (8).
Will of Edmund/Edward Dillon (c. 1814-1899)
This is the last [will] and testament of me Edward Dillon of Glaziers Bay Port Cygnet farmer whereof I appoint Cornelius Sullivan and Michael Grace both of Glaziers Bay Port Cygnet my trustees and executors.
After payment of all my just debts funeral and testamentary expenses, I give devise and bequeath all my real and personal estate unto my wife Hannah Dillon for her use and benefit during her life and after her death to my son Michael Dillon subject however to a charge of twenty pounds (£20) which I direct he is to pay to my daughter Mary Dillon. And such payment is to be made before he gets the deeds or any title to my said real estate. He may however pay the said twenty pounds (£20) in instalments extending over seven years after the decease of my wife.
Signed by the testator in the presence of us present at the same time: Peter O’Reilly, Patrick Herlihy
Dated this twenty-seventh day of December 1886
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Will of John Dillon (c. 1817-1890)
I John Dillon of Agnes Rivulet Port Cygnet in Tasmania do hereby will and bequeath absolutely to my wife Bridget Dillon at my death all my property, real and personal I may hold for her sole use and benefit and to dispose of as she thinks proper and I do also hereby appoint her sole executrix of this my last will and testament.
Witness: C[hristopher] O’Reilly
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Dated this seventh day of January 1883
Will of Timothy Dillon (c. 1824-1880)
I Timothy Dillon of Agnes Rivulet, Port Cygnet and now a patient in the General Hospital Hobart, being of sound mind, but fearing the results of an operation to be performed upon me, do make this my last will and testament.
I will and bequeath to my beloved wife Catherine Dillon whose maiden name is Catherine Joice during the term of her natural life or so long as she does not marry and maintains and supports my children, twenty-six acres of land or thereabouts being a Moiety of fifty-two acres of land purchased by me from the Crown situate near the Agnes Rivulet County of Buckingham Adjoining my Brothers John Dillon’s Land. The same being that Moiety with the homestead together with all my goods chattels and personal effects now in or upon the whole of the said fifty-two acres So long as she lives or does not get married But in the event of her dying or getting married then the whole of the said twenty-six acres of land & the whole of the goods and chattels Shall revert to and become the property of my Eldest Son Edmund Dillon So Soon as he becomes of age.
The residue of the Said lot of land or the other Moiety of the Said Fifty-two acres I bequeath to My Eldest Son Edmund Dillon Subject to a charge or Sum of Sixty pounds to be paid to my third son Patrick Dillon On his becoming of age (of 21 yrs). In the event of My Son Edmund not duly and faithfully paying to my Son Patrick or to his Executors Then the Executors hereunto Shall cause the said twenty-six acres of land to be sold and from the proceeds of the sale pay unto my son Patrick the said sum of sixty pounds And the residue if Any after defraying Expenses to My Son Edmund. The division lines of the said Fifty-two acres to be so drawn as to give both Moietys a frontage on the Main Road And to be finally determined by the Executors hereunto. To My Second Son John Dillon I bequeath Fifty-two acres of land purchased by me from my brother Edmund Dillon situate and fronting on the Agnes Rivulet and adjoining land occupied by Mrs McNamara County of Buckingham together with all the appurtenances thereunto belonging Subject to a lieu or payment of a sum of Sixty pounds sterling to my son Robert Dillon So Soon as he becomes of age Failing which The Trustees hereunto May and Shall Sell the said fifty-two acres And out of the proceeds pay unto the Said Robert Dillon the Said Sum of Sixty pounds sterling And the residue if Any After defraying expenses to my Son John Dillon. Further to elucidate So Soon As John Dillon becomes of age The lieu Shall be paid to my Son Robert or the land sold and So Soon as my first Son Edmund becomes of age the Lieu on his 26 acres Shall be paid to My Son Patrick failing which the land is to be then sold. And further it is to be distinctly understood that So long as my wife Catherine Dillon Aforesaid lives And does not get Married None of the Lands above mentioned Shall be Sold without her Consent in writing first being had and obtained. And I do also Appoint Christopher O’Reilly Esquire M.H.A of Port Cygnet And James Kinsella Esquire of Port Cygnet As And to be My Executors together with my Wife Catherine Dillon Trustees. To give Effect to this my last will and testament made this eleventh day of December Eighteen hundred and seventy-eight. The grant Deeds of the first mentioned 52 acres of land remain with the government. Those of the second above mentioned block are not yet Executed and therefore empower my Executors the above mentioned C. O’Reilly Esq. And James Kinsella to complete and give effect to the Bargain made between my brother Edmund Dillon and myself and Thomas Inches and sign all documents instruments and matters on My behalf necessary to give effect hereunto as well as any matters relative to the lands mentioned not been done by me.
This being My last will and testament I hereby revoke all or any other will or testament made at any time previous to this by me.
11th day of December 1878
A week before he died, Timothy Dillon changed the sums due to his sons Patrick and Robert Dillon. Instead of £60 each, they were to be paid £30. Signed in the presence of Christopher O’Reilly, 1st day of March, 1880.
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